Shallow Waters

We've been gradually making our way around the coast of the Fraser Delta. Ladner Dikes, Tsawwassen, Boundary Bay, Mud Bay, Blackie Spit, Crescent Beach (not necessarily in that order, although that is how they line up on the map). Between Crescent Beach and White Rock, almost on the US border, there is a long, rocky stretch, accessible only on foot. We made a start on it a couple of weeks ago.

The tide was halfway out and the shore looked rocky. While Laurie went back to the car for his boots, I went wading. The water was shallow and warm; I walked for quite a ways, straight out, with the water never coming up to my knees. Looking back, I could see the whole coastline laid out for me.

Looking southeast: the beginning of the wooded area. There is housing under those trees, but well shaded, and back a bit from the cliff face and the railroad track that follows the shore from here to the US border.

Looking northeast:
A bit beyond me, a woman was walking her dog. In the water. Still not up to her knees.


The water was really clear, almost transparent. In this next photo, it was several inches deep over the shells and sand. The wavelets warp the image, but don't change the colouring.


Laurie came back, booted for walking on rocks, and we went on south. After a short stretch of sand and snails (more of those invasive Asian snails), the shore turned to rocky shingle. It made for slow going. We passed a few sunbathers, up close to the bank where there was shelter from the wind, and a circle of teenagers with a cooler; otherwise, the beach was empty.

Bad hair day.

An uprooted tree, long denuded, just begged to be climbed.

By teenagers.

And not-so-teen-agers. Here's Laurie: "Lord of all I survey!" he claimed.


Seaweedy rocks, stepping stones to nowhere.

The railroad runs right above the water line here, straight south, and then curving back east to the WhiteRock Bay.

A staircase supported on huge blocks of concrete crosses it about the level of 24th Street, then winds on up the cliff face. We'll have to start there, next time.

Graffitti on the concrete. Of course. ME, it says. Signed work.

On the way back, we had the beach to ourselves. The tide was coming in.


Or almost to ourselves. If you look at this photo full size, you will see how the sand is speckled all over. Those dots are the invasive Asian sea snails, on their mission of world conquest.